A group of Racing Santander fans tried to attack President Angel Lavin during their Copa del Rey match with Almeria last night.

The Segunda B side drew 1-1, but with an hour gone some supporters tried to enter the Presidential box and throw drinks at the club’s owner.

Racing’s private security had to be called in to calm the situation down, but not before Lavin was assaulted by fans.

Racing’s players used the occasion to protest against the club’s precarious financial situation and in particular against the fact that they have not been paid for the past three months.

The players refused to start playing when the game began and solidarity was shown by their Almeria opponents who also stood still for the first 20 seconds of the match.

AFE, the players’ union, released a statement on its website to explain the situation.

“The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) wishes to announce that the protest carried out by the Racing Santander players at the start of their Copa del Rey last 16 first leg game with Almeria took place owing to the following circumstances:

“As of today, the footballers are still owed their salaries for the months of October, November and December. The club’s board have now back on their promise to pay the players a part of the money owed three times. Ángel Lavín, the club’s president, both in public and private, promised the squad they would receive the money owed to them by 31 December, at the latest, but that promise has not been fulfilled.

“As a result of the aforementioned, the squad is experiencing a very delicate situation, because not only are they not getting paid, but they have to carry on paying for the bulk of their personal expenses and that of their families, bearing in mind that the vast majority of them are from outside Cantabria.

“The Racing Santander squad reserves the right to not make any public declaration on this matter, referring to this statement.”

Footage of the supporters attempting to reach the Raving president can be seen in the video below.